Toilet paper roll cover

ABSTRACT

A paper roll cover ( 1 ) used in conjunction with a conventional paper roll dispenser ( 2 ) having a spindle ( 3 ) mounted between two posts ( 4 ) that are mounted to a wall ( 5 ). The paper roll cover having a first side panel ( 6 ), a second side panel ( 7 ), a top panel ( 8 ) and a front panel ( 9 ). The width of the top panel and the front panel is greater than a paper roll ( 10 ) but less than the width of the space between the posts. Slots ( 11 ) located on the first side panel and the second side panel of the paper roll cover accommodate the spindle of the paper roll dispenser.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/341,999, filed Apr. 8, 2010. The patent application identified above is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to bathroom accessories, and more particularly to a protective cover for use with paper rolls, most notably toilet paper rolls, mounted on paper roll dispensers.

Paper roll dispensers are commonly used in bathrooms and mounted on walls next to toilets in the case of toilet paper and in kitchen in the case of paper towel dispensers. For example, conventional toilet paper dispensers comprise a spindle mounted between two posts that are mounted to a wall. Most conventional paper roll dispensers do not provide covers for the paper rolls, thereby exposing the toilet paper to becoming soiled, wet and/or subject to hand transmitted infections and airborne germs. In such cases, paper rolls and especially toilet paper that becomes soiled or wet poses a health risk to subsequent users and must be discarded and replaced. Additional problems include excess paper rolling off of the roll and not being able to tear paper off of a roll using only one hand. Paper roll covers have been developed in the past in an attempt to overcome these problems. However, conventional paper roll covers not only cover the paper roll but the entire paper roll dispenser. For example, the majority of toilet paper dispensers have decorative posts to add to the aesthetic value of a particular bathroom. By covering the entire toilet paper dispenser, a user looses the aesthetic quality of the decorative posts, thereby defeating the purpose of having decorative posts.

Therefore a need exists for a paper roll cover that is compatible with conventional paper roll dispensers, that does not cover the decorative posts of paper roll dispensers and adds aesthetic value to the paper roll dispenser while protecting the paper from becoming soiled, wet and/or subject to hand transmitted infections and airborne germs.

The relevant prior art includes the following references:

Patent No. Inventor Issue/Publication Date (U.S. Patent References) D514,360 Richardson Feb. 07, 2006 D512,253 Hoernig Dec. 06, 2005 D487,858 Richardson Mar. 30, 2004 D462,551 Mayer Sep. 10, 2002 D438,414 Miller Mar. 06, 2001 D393,770 Daly Apr. 28, 1998 4,285,474 Perez Aug. 25, 1981 D196,626 Aigner Oct. 15, 1963 (Non-Patent References) www.justacover.com

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a toilet paper cover that protects toilet paper from becoming soiled or wet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper cover that is compatible with conventional toilet paper dispensers.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a paper cover that does not cover the decorative posts of toilet paper dispensers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper cover that adds aesthetic value to the toilet paper dispenser.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a paper roll cover that prevents excess paper from being unrolled off a paper roll.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper cover that allows a user to tear off only the paper to be used.

The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a paper roll cover to be used with a paper roll dispenser having a spindle mounted between two posts that are mounted to a wall. Said paper roll cover having a first side panel, a second side panel, a top panel and a front panel. The top and/or the front panel may be curved to accommodate a round paper roll. The first side panel and second side panel are spaced apart to accommodate the width of a paper roll being held within the cover while fitting between the posts of the paper roll dispenser, thereby not covering the posts while in a closed position. Angled slots located on the first side and the second side of the paper roll cover accommodate the spindle of the paper roll dispenser and allow the paper roll cover to be fully closed over a paper roll. A hinge located along a rear edge of the top panel allows the paper roll cover to be angled upward into an open position or downward into a closed position. The hinge may by attached to the wall behind the paper roll via an attachment means, such as interlocking strips, adhesive, hook and loop fastener, screws and so forth.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective plan view of a paper roll cover of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of a paper roll cover of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a paper roll cover of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a paper roll cover of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:

1. paper roll cover 2. paper roll dispenser 3. spindle 4. post 5. wall 6. first side panel 7. second side panel 8. top panel 9. front panel 10. paper roll 11. angled slots 12. upper portion 13. front portion 14. side edge 15. top edge 16. front edge 17. hinge 18. rear edge 19. attachment means 20. interlocking strips

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 3 and 4, a front perspective plan view, a side perspective plan view, a front perspective plan view and a top plan view, respectively, of a paper roll cover 1 of the present invention are illustrated. The paper roll cover 1 is designed to be used in conjunction with a conventional paper roll dispenser 2, such as a toilet paper dispenser or a paper towel dispenser, having a spindle 3 mounted between two posts 4 that are mounted to a wall 5. The paper roll cover 1 comprises a first side panel 6, a second side panel 7, a top panel 8 and a front panel 9. The top panel and/or the front panel 9 may be curved to conform to the shape of a paper roll 10, such as a roll of toilet paper or a roll of paper towels. The width of the top panel 8 and the front panel 9 is greater than a paper roll 10 but less than the width of the space between the posts 4. Therefore, the first side panel 6 and second side panel 7 are spaced far enough apart to accommodate the width of the paper roll 10 being held within the paper roll cover 1 while fitting between the posts 4 of the paper roll dispenser 2, thereby not covering the posts 4 while in a closed position. Angled slots 11 located on the first side panel 6 and the second side panel 7 of the paper roll cover 1 accommodate the spindle 3 of the paper roll dispenser 2 and allow the paper roll cover 1 to be fully closed over a paper roll 10. The angled slots 11 are generally angled toward an upper portion 12 of the front panel 9 and/or a front portion 13 of the top panel 8. The angled slots 11 further comprise side edges 14, a top edge 15 and a front edge 16. The angled slots 11 may also only have a top edge 15 and a front edge 16. The top edge 15 of each angled slot 11 is preferably parallel to the top panel 8 so that the top edge 15 of each angled slot 11 rests on the spindle 3 of the paper roll dispenser 2 while the paper roll cover 1 is in a closed position. The width of the angled slots 11 and parallel top edge 15 are designed to accommodate various lengths of posts 4. A hinge 17 located along a rear edge 18 of the top panel 8 allows the paper roll cover 1 to be angled upward into an open position or downward into a closed position. The hinge 17 may by attached to the wall 5 behind the paper roll 10 via an attachment means 19, such as an interlocking strips 20, hook and loop faster, screw and so forth.

It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings. 

1. A paper roll cover for use in combination with a paper roll dispenser having a spindle located between two posts that are mounted to a wall, said paper roll cover comprising: a first side panel and a second side panel connected by a front panel and a top panel; a slot located on the first side panel for accommodating the axle while the paper roll cover is in a closed position; a slot located on the second side panel for accommodating the axle while the paper roll cover is in a closed position; a hinge located proximate a rear edge of the top panel; and an attachment means for attaching the hinge to the wall.
 2. The paper roll cover of claim 1 wherein: said first side panel and said second side panel are spaced apart at a width that is greater then a paper roll and less than a width between the two posts of the paper roll dispenser.
 3. The paper roll cover of claim 1 wherein: said slot located on the first side panel further comprises a top edge and a front edge; and said slot located on the second side panel further comprises a top edge and a front edge.
 4. The paper roll cover of claim 3 wherein: said slot located on the first side panel further comprises at least one side edge; and said slot located on the second side panel further comprises at least one side edge.
 5. The paper roll cover of claim 1 wherein: said front panel is curved to accommodate a round paper roll.
 6. The paper roll cover of claim 1 wherein: said top panel is curved to accommodate a round paper roll.
 7. A paper roll cover for use in combination with a paper roll dispenser having a spindle located between two posts that are mounted to a wall, said paper roll cover comprising: a first side panel and a second side panel connected by a front panel and a top panel; said first side panel and said second side panel are spaced apart at a width that is greater then a paper roll and less than a width between the two posts of the paper roll dispenser; a slot located on the first side panel for accommodating the axle while the paper roll cover is in a closed position; a slot located on the second side panel for accommodating the axle while the paper roll cover is in a closed position; a hinge located proximate a rear edge of the top panel; and an attachment means for attaching the hinge to the wall.
 8. The paper roll cover of claim 7 wherein: said slot located on the first side panel further comprises a top edge and a front edge; and said slot located on the second side panel further comprises a top edge and a front edge.
 9. The paper roll cover of claim 8 wherein: said slot located on the first side panel further comprises at least one side edge; and said slot located on the second side panel further comprises at least one side edge.
 10. The paper roll cover of claim 7 wherein: said front panel is curved to accommodate a round roll paper.
 11. The paper roll cover of claim 7 wherein: said top panel is curved to accommodate a round roll paper.
 12. A paper roll cover for use in combination with a paper roll dispenser having a spindle located between two posts that are mounted to a wall, said paper roll cover comprising: a first side panel and a second side panel connected by a front panel and a top panel; said first side panel and said second side panel are spaced apart at a width that is greater then a roll of paper roll and less than a width between the two posts of the paper roll dispenser; a slot located on the first side panel for accommodating the axle while the paper roll cover is in a closed position; a slot located on the second side panel for accommodating the axle while the paper roll cover is in a closed position; said slot located on the first side panel further comprises a top edge and a front edge; said slot located on the second side panel further comprises a top edge and a front edge; a hinge located proximate a rear edge of the top panel; and an attachment means for attaching the hinge to the wall.
 13. The paper roll cover of claim 12 wherein: said slot located on the first side panel further comprises at least one side edge; and said slot located on the second side panel further comprises at least one side edge.
 14. The paper roll cover of claim 12 wherein: said front panel is curved to accommodate a round paper roll.
 15. The paper roll cover of claim 12 wherein: said top panel is curved to accommodate a paper roll. 